The DHCP Relay Agent component is a Bootstrap Protocol (BOOTP) relay agent that relays Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) messages between DHCP clients and DHCP servers on different IP networks. The DHCP Relay Agent is compliant with RFC 1542, "Clarifications and Extensions for the Bootstrap Protocol." For each IP network segment that contains DHCP clients, either a DHCP server or a computer acting as a DHCP Relay Agent is required.

Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) maintains host group membership on a local subnet. Hosts use IGMP to communicate multicast group membership requests with their local multicast router. Routers receive the group membership requests and periodically send queries to determine which host groups are active or inactive on the local subnet. This protocol is required to support Level 2 multicasting. Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) uses Multicast Listener Discovery (MLD) instead of IGMP to manage group membership.

The Multicast Group Manager (MGM) application programming interface (API) enables developers to write multicast routing protocols that interoperate with routers running the Multicast Group Manager. When more than one multicast routing protocol is enabled on a router, the MGM coordinates operations between all routing protocols. The MGM informs each routing protocol when group membership changes occur, and when multicast data from a new source or destined to a new group is received.

You can create dial-up and broadband remote access connections to reach remote computers. With the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), Layer Two Tunneling Protocol (L2TP), or Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP), which are automatically installed on your computer, you can securely access resources on a network by connecting to a remote access server through the Internet or other network. The use of both private and public networks to create a network connection is called a virtual private network (VPN).

VPN connections are created with the Connect to a Workplace wizard or through a RAS dialer profile using the Connection Manager Administration Kit (CMAK). The profile is distributed by administrators to remote access users who install it on their computers.